Perforating apparatus



1952 K. F. OLDENBURG ETAL 3,051,376

PERFORATING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 17, 1960 PIXEL Q;

IBD A DIE ELEMENT PUNCH STOP PETPACTING BAIL TAPE FEED ACTUATOR PA WLfj/vzuraes m w 0 A 0 W a A o 0 H W 2 M Mwfl g y Aug. 28, 1962 K. F.OLDENBURG ETAL 3,051,376

PERFORATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 17, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fIlEl Q M/AWQ3,951,376 Patented Aug. 28, 1962 Free 3,051,376 PERFORATING APPARATUSKenneth F. Oldenburg, Monterey Park, and Fred N- Schwend, El Monte,Califl, assignors to Clary Corporation, San Gabriel, Calif., acorporation of California Filed Nov. 17, 1960, Ser. No. 70,049 4 Claims.(Cl. 234-115) This invention relates to perforators and has particularreference to high speed perforators adapted to record data byperforating record media, such as paper tape.

Heretofore, penforators of the above type have generally embodiedrelatively complicated cam-driven linkages or trains or elements foroperating the punches. Because of the number of parts which must bereciprocated, and because of the design of the moving mechanism, suchperforators involve considerable reciprocating mass which restrict theoverall speed of operation. Also, such perforators generally incorporatesprings which are effective to return moving linkage or parts to normalpositions. For this reason, the drive means has to be massive and strongenough to drive such linkages and parts against the spring load wheninitially moving the same. This also contributes to relatively largereciprocating masses and consequent limiting of the speed of operation.

Further, it has been found that springs are limited in speed ofoperation in that they tend to set up resonant vibrations at certainhigh speeds of operation which also limit their effectiveness.

It therefore becomes a principal object of the present invention toprovide a perforator of the above type capable of relatively high speedsof operation.

Another object is to reduce the number of reciprocating parts in aperforator of the above type.

Another object is to eliminate springs in the moving parts of aperforator, particularly in those parts which must reciprocate atrelatively high speeds.

Another object is to provide a perforator which is reliable and yeteconomical to manufacture.

A further object is to provide a compact perforator having a minimumnumber of parts.

The manner in which the above and other objects of the invention areaccomplished vwll be understood on reference to the followingspecification when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a sectional view through a tape perforating apparatus, withparts broken away, illustrating a preferred form of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the perforating apparatusand is taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view illustrating the tape advancing mechanismin condition to advance the tape.

FIG. 4 is a graph illustrating the phase relationship of differentcomponents of the perforating apparatus.

Referring to the drawings, the perforator comprises a frame including.side frames 11 and 12 held in spaced relation by cross braces, one ofwhich is shown at 13, secured to the side frames by screws 14. The brace13 supports a pair of spaced vertically extending guide posts 15 and 16depending therefrom.

A die element 17 is provided having spaced bearings 18 and 19 atopposite ends thereof which are slideable along the posts 15 and 16. Thedie element is reciprocated vertically by a pair of cams 20 and 21securely mounted on a drive shaft 22. The latter is continuously rotatedin a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 1) by a suitable motor (not shown)through a belt and pulley arrangement partially indicated at 23.

The earns 20 and 21 are located outside of the perfor'ator side frames11 and 12 to protect the same from chad, etc., formed during thepunching operation and have carnways 24 therein which engage rollers 25mounted on extensions 26 on opposite ends of the die element, whichextensions project through openings 27 in the side frames. End caps 29are suitably attached to the side frames and enclose the cams.

Mounted on the die element are a stripper plate 30 and a retractor plate31, the latter being spaced from the stripper plate by spacers 32.Screws 33 hold the stripper and retractor plates in fixed relation tothe die element.

A channel or groove 34 is formed in the die element 17 directly belowthe stripper plate to slideably receive a tape 35 of paper, or the like,to be perforated.

A sprocket perforation punch 36 is suitably attached at its upper end tothe brace :13 and extends through aligned guide openings in the plates30 and 31. When the die element is in its lowermost position, as shownin FIG. 2, the bottom shearing edge of the punch 36 lies directly overthe tape. The punch 36 is aligned with a die opening 37 in the dieelement so that when the latter is raised by the cams 20 and 21, the dieopening will invariably move over the punch 36 to perforate the tape.

A plurality of data perforating punches 3 8 are located in line with thepunch 36 on opposite sides thereof. Each of the data punches isslideably mounted in aligned bearing holes formed in the brace 13 andthe plates 30 and 31. A head 40 is formed on the upper end of each punch38 and normally, when the die element is in its lowermost position,rests on top of the brace 13. A collar 41 is also formed on each punchand is located between the plates 30 and 31. Normally, the collar restsagainst the lower surface of plate 31, thereby holding the punch in aposition wherein the bottom shearing edge thereof lies directly abovethe tape.

Each punch is aligned with a die opening 42 in the die element 17 sothat when the punch is blocked, as will be described presently, the dieopening will pass over the block to perforate the tape. However, when apunch is not blocked, the tape, upon being raised by the die element,will be effective to raise the punch idly and thus no perforation willoccur.

An angularly disposed deflector plate 39 is located under the dieopenings and is suitably attached to the side frames 11 and 12 todeflect the chad into a suitable receptacle (not shown).

In order to aid the tape in raising the data punches when no perforationis to take place, the plate 31 is preferably magnetized as a permanentmagnet, causing the data punches to be yieldably raised and loweredalong with the die element. This is of particular value at extremelyhigh speeds where even the relatively light mass of the freely mountedor floating punches tends to otherwise cut through the tape when the dieelement is rising.

Means are provided for selectively blocking different ones or all of thedata punches to effect perforating. For this purpose, a plurality ofU-shaped magnet frames 43 of iron or similar magnetic material havinglow mag netic retentivity are mounted side by side on cross rods 44 and45 extending between the side frames 12 and 13. The frames 43 are heldin spaced relation to each other and in alignment with respectivepunches 38 by spacers 46 and by notched comb bars 47 and 48 suitablysecured at their opposite ends to the side frames 12 and 13.Electromagnetic coils 50 are mounted on respective ones of the frames43. It will be noted that the legs of the frames are of progressivelygreater length to allow for mounting of the coils even though thelateral spacing between adjacent frames is too close to otherwise mountsuch coils.

Each of the frames 43 is formed with a circular socket 51 locateddirectly above the aligned punch 38. A punch blocking element 52 isprovided for each frame, the latter having a circular head 53 pivotallymounted in the socket to form a knuckle joint. The lower end of theblocking element lies directly adjacent the head 40 of the aligned punch38, but is normally held out of blocking relation thereof, as shown inFIG. 1, by a U-shaped permanent magnet 54 suitably supported between theside frames 12 and 1'3. The various blocking elements are guided by thecomb bars 47 and 43.

Upon energization of a coil 50, the magnetic flux induced in itsrespective frame 43 will rock the associated blocking element 52clockwise slightly to a position wherein it will block the aligned punch'38 from being moved upward along with the die element 17. Accordingly,such punch will affect perforating of the tape when the die element israised.

Means are provided for positively returning the blocking element 52following a punching operation to permit a new punching set-up to bemade by energizing newly selected coils 50. For this purpose, aretracting bail 55 is pivotally mounted on a cross rod 56 extendingbetween the side frames 12 and 13. The bail extends across all of theblocking elements 52 and the opposite legs of the bail are provided withrollers, one of which is shown at 57. The latter extend through openings59 in the side frames 11 and 12 and are engaged by the camways 24 of thecams 20 and 21.

As seen in FIG. 4, the cams are effective to actuate the retracting baildirectly after the die element 17 has reached the top of its stroke.

As soon as the die element 17 returns to its lowermost position shown inFIGS. 1 and '2, wherein the stripper plate 30 becomes effective to stripthe tape 35 from any or all of the punches, the tape is advancedpreparatory to a new perforating operation. For this .purpose, the tape,which is fed from a suitable supply roll (not shown) and over a table 60against which it is yieldably held by a suitable spring element 61,passes through the aforementioned channel 34 in the die element 17,under a guide roller 62 and over a feed sprocket 63. The latter hassprocket pins 64- which engage the sprocket perforations in the tape topositively advance the tape to the left in FIG. 1. Suitably attached tothe sprocket 63 is a toothed wheel 65 arranged to be intermittentlyadvanced in a counterclockwise direction by an actuating pawl 66. Thelatter is pivotally supported intermediate its ends by a cam follower 67pivotally supported on the rod 56 and provided with a roller 68. Theroller extends through an opening 69 in the side frame 12 and is engagedby the camway 24 in the cam 20.

The pawl 66 is connected through a link 70 to an armature 71 of anelectromagnet 72. The armature is pivoted at 73 and is normally held ina lowered position by a U- shaped permanent magnet 74 suitably supportedbetween the side frames to thereby normally hold the pawl 66 in its idleposition shown in FIG. 1. The electromagnet 72 is fixedly supportedrelative to the perforator frame by cross rods 79 extending between theside frames 11 and 12.

p The pawl 66 is provided with spaced teeth 75 and 76. When the armature71 is held in its lower position shown in FIG. 1, the cam 20 will beeffective, after actuating the retracting bail 55, to force the camfollower 67 and actuator pawl 66 to the left, in which case the teeth 75and 76 will idly pass adjacent teeth 77 and 78 on the wheel 65 withoutinterference. Accordingly, the pawl will be ineffective to advance thewheel. However, upon energization of the electromagnet 72, which wouldoccur concurrently with or shortly after energization of one or more ofthe magnets 50, the actuator pawl 66 is rocked by the armature 71 to itsposition shown in FIG. 3

wherein the upper pawl tooth 75 is located directly in line with thetooth 77 of the wheel 65. Thus, as the actuator pawl is driven to theleft, the tooth 75 will engage the tooth 77 to advance the wheel 65 oneincrement in a counterclockwise direction. During such movement, asucceeding tooth 80 on the wheel engages the lower surface of the pawltooth 75 to rock the actuator pawl clockwise toward its normal positionof FIG. 1 wherein the teeth 75 and 76 assume their dotted line positions75a and 76a. Accordingly, as the pawl 66 reaches the end of its stroke,it will assume the same position it otherwise assumes at the end of anidle stroke. Therefore, the pawl tooth 76 moves into the path of asucceeding tooth 81 on the wheel 65 to prevent overthrow of the wheeland sprocket. This movement will also retract the armature 71 into itslower position where it will be held by magnet 74.

A centralizer 82 is provided to centralize the wheel 65 and sprocket 63when the actuator pawl 66 is withdrawn. The centralizer is pivoted at 83and is urged counterclockwise by a tension spring 84 to hold a roller 85against two adjacent teeth of the gear wheel. I The spring element 61exerts a slight drag on the tape to maintain the tape relatively taut asit passes over the die element 17. Also, the distance between thepunches and the spring element 61 on one side and the roller 62 on theother is relatively greater than the vertical movement of the dieelement so that only a slight endwise movement of the tape results fromsuch vertical travel of the die element.

It will be noted in FIG. 1 that the camways on cams 21 and 22. each havetwo diametrically opposed cam lobes and 91 thereon eifectively tosuccessively actuate the die element 17, the retracting bail 55 and thetape advancing actuator pawl 66. Accordingly, the punch will operatethrough two cycles during each revolution of the shaft 22.

Although we have described our invention in detail in its preferredembodiment and have therefore used certain specific terms and languagesherein, it is to be understood that the present disclosure isillustrative rather than restrictive and that certain changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe claims appended hereto.

Having thus described the invention, what we desire to secure by UnitedStates Letters Patent is:

1. Perforating apparatus for a record medium comprising at least oneelongate punch of magnetic material, means for guiding said punch forendwise movement, a die element, means for advancing and retracting saiddie element in the direction of movement of said punch, means forguiding said record medium between said die element and said punch, apunch retractor carried by said die element and effective to move saidpunch with said die element but out of punching relation with said dieelement during retraction of said die element, said retractor beingmagnetized to yieldably maintain said punch out of punching relationwith said die element, and means [for selectively blocking said punchfrom endwise movement during advancement of said die element whereby tocause said die element to perforate said record medium over said punch.

2. Perforating apparatus for a record medium comprising at least oneelongate punch of magnetic material,

0 means for guiding said punch for endwise movement, a

die element, means for advancing and retracting said die element in thedirection of movement of said punch, a stripper plate carried by saiddie element, said stripper plate being spaced from said die element toguide said record medium between said plate and said die element, apunch retractor carried by said die element and effective to move saidpunch with said die element but out of punching relation with said dieelement during retraction of said die element, said retractor beingmagnetized to yieldably maintain said punch out of punching relationwith 5 said die element, means for limiting movement of said punch uponretracting movement of said die element, and means for selectivelyblocking said punch from endwise movement during advancement of said dieelement whereby to cause said die element to perforate said recordmedium over said punch.

3. Perforating apparatus for a record medium comprising at least oneelongate punch, means for guiding said punch for endwise movement, a dieblock, means comprising a cam having a camway and a cam followercontrolled by said camway for advancing and retracting said die block,in the direction of movement of said punch; means for feeding a recordmedium between said die block and said punch, means comprising a secondcam follower controlled by said camway for actuating said feeding means;a blocking device movable into and out of the path of said punch, meansfor selectively moving said blocking device into the path of said punchwhereby to enable said die block to perforate said record medium oversaid punch during advancement of said die block, and means comprising athird cam follower controlled by said camway for moving said blockingdevice out of the path of said punch.

4. Perforating apparatus for a record medium comprising at least oneelongate punch, means for guiding said punch for endwise movement, a dieblock, means comprising a rotatable cam having a camway and a camfollower controlled by said camway for advancing and retracting said dieblock in the direction of movement of said punch; means for feeding arecord medium between said die block and said punch, means comprising asecond cam follower controlled by said camway for actuating said feedingmeans; a blocking device movable into and out of the path of said punch,means for selectively moving said blocking device into the path of saidpunch whereby to enable said die block to perforate said record mediumover said punch during advancement of said die block, means comprising athird cam follower controlled by said camway for moving said blockingdevice out of the path of said punch, and means for continuouslyrotating said cam.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS732,279 Davis June 30, 1903 1,138,314 Powers May 4, 1915 2,965,169Berghell Dec. 20, 1960

